Impact of Repeated Doses of Subcutaneous Esketamine on Acute Dissociative Symptoms in Treatment-Resistant Depression.

BACKGROUND: Esketamine has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an adjunctive treatment for use in conjunction with an oral antidepressant for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), but dissociative symptoms are common adverse effects. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 394 subcutaneous esketamine injections given to 70 patients with TRD that were administered once a week during a six-week trial in conjunction with oral antidepressant therapy. Doses between 0.5 to 1.0 mg/kg were administered according to the patient's response. Dissociative symptoms were assessed using the Clinician-Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS) 30 and 60 min after every weekly treatment (day 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 and 36). RESULTS: Seventy patients received a total of 394 subcutaneous esketamine injections over six weeks. Over time, the evolution of CADSS scores demonstrated a significant mean difference of CADSS at 60 min post-injection (p = 0.010) throughout the six infusions. The mean CADSS scores at 60 min on day 22, 29 and 36 were similar. There were no differences between mean CADSS scores 30 min after the injections, no clinical correlation between response and dissociative symptoms, no correlation between time and demographic and clinical characteristics and no interactions between time and combined medication. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that repeated subcutaneous esketamine doses are safe and well-tolerated regarding their acute dissociative and psychotomimetic symptoms. Symptoms usually peak at 30 min and decrease at 60 min post-injection, returning to their pretreatment levels at 120 min. Dissociative symptoms do not correlate with antidepressant response.

Efficacy and Safety of Subcutaneous Esketamine in the Treatment of Suicidality in Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Depression.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Affective disorders account for most cases of suicide. The pharmacological arsenal to treat suicidality is limited and available agents take too long to take effect. A large body of evidence shows optimal results of ketamine for treating depression, but the evidence concerning suicidality has not been fully described. We report the first real-world study of severely depressed patients presenting with suicide ideation who were treated with repeated administration of subcutaneous esketamine. METHODS: We analyzed data from 70 acutely depressed subjects diagnosed with resistant major depressive disorder or bipolar depression. Subjects were administered subcutaneous esketamine once a week for 6 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint, the change from baseline to 24-h post-administration 6 in the item 10 Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale score, was analyzed using a mixed-effects repeated-measures model. RESULTS: There were significant effects for time on item 10 Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale scores (p < 0.0001) but not for a time × diagnosis interaction (p = 0.164) from baseline to the end of the study. Efficacy of esketamine did not differ between groups (major depressive disorder vs bipolar depression) at any timepoint. Statistical significance on suicidality scores was observed from 24 h after the first administration (p < 0.001), and a further reduction was observed with repeated administrations. Esketamine was safe and well tolerated. Mean heart rate remained stable during the administrations and the blood pressure increase was self-limited. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated subcutaneous esketamine administration had significant anti-suicidality effects in both major depressive disorder and bipolar groups, with a rapid onset of action and a good tolerability profile. Large randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm these preliminary findings.

The probability of response after each subcutaneous injection of esketamine in treatment-resistant depression.

INTRODUCTION: The administration of multiple esketamine doses has shown efficacy for unipolar and bipolar treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Nevertheless, the probability of responding or not after each dose in the real-world remains unknown. This study aimed to estimate it throughout four doses of esketamine, administrated via subcutaneous (SC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of a case series of 70 patients with TRD who received treatment from the esketamine assistance program at Federal University of Sao Paulo, between April 2017 and December 2018. The SC injections were administrated weekly at a dose of 0.5-1.0mg/kg, in conjunction with patients' psychotropic drugs. Response was defined as a decrease of at least 50% in the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale between baseline and 24h after dose. We used hidden Markov modeling in order to estimate de probability of response after each esketamine injection. RESULTS: The probability of a patient that was a "non-responder" to become a "responder" following a SC injection of esketamine was 17.30% and the probability that this patient remains a "non-responder" was 82.70%. The probability of a patient that was a "responder" to remain as a "responder" was 95%. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with TRD who had not responded after the first dose of esketamine, still had a chance of responding after the subsequent dose administrated via SC.

A Clinical Rationale for Assessing the Impact of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Adjunctive Subcutaneous Esketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression.

Background: A history of child sexual abuse (CSA) is related to higher suicide rates and poor treatment outcomes in depressed adult patients. Twenty years after the first study investigating the effects of ketamine/esketamine on depression and suicide, there is a lack of data on the CSA effects on this emerging treatment. Here, we assess the impact of CSA on adjunctive subcutaneous (SC) esketamine for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Methods: A directed acyclic graphic (DAG) was designed to identify clinical confounders between CSA and esketamine predictors of response. The confounders were applied in a statistical model to predict depression symptom trajectory in a sample of 67 TRD outpatients. Results: The patient sample had a relatively high prevalence rate of CSA (35.82%). Positive family history of first-degree relatives with alcohol use disorder and sex were clinical mediators of the effects of esketamine in a CSA adult population. Overall, the presence of at least one CSA event was unrelated to esketamine symptom reduction. Conclusions: Unlike responses to conventional antidepressants and psychotherapy, CSA does not appear to predict poor response to esketamine.

Neurocognitive aspects of ketamine and esketamine on subjects with treatment-resistant depression: A comparative, randomized and double-blind study.

The objective of this study is to evaluate cognition in patients using either ketamine or esketamine to treat TRD. We also evaluate if both ketamine and esketamine as one group influence cognition in patients with TRD. Fifty-four patients with TRD were infused with either ketamine or esketamine and were assessed at three time points: baseline, 24 h, and 7 days after infusion. We applied neuropsychological tests to evaluate executive functions, processing speed, short term memory, and auditory-verbal episodic memory. There is no cognitive difference between ketamine and esketamine, with the exception of one variable. When considered as one group, ketamine and esketamine do not impair cognition; on the contrary, they improve some neuropsychological functions such as visuospatial short-term memory, executive functions, processing speed, and several measures related to episodic verbal memory. Ketamine and esketamine do not present differing cognitive effects when used in antidepressant doses to treat TRD. Furthermore, they rapidly improve many cognitive aspects of patients with TRD at 24 h after the infusion and maintain these effects for at least 7 days.

The probability of response after each subcutaneous injection of esketamine in treatment-resistant depression.

INTRODUCTION: The administration of multiple esketamine doses has shown efficacy for unipolar and bipolar treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Nevertheless, the probability of responding or not after each dose in the real-world remains unknown. This study aimed to estimate it throughout four doses of esketamine, administrated via subcutaneous (SC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of a case series of 70 patients with TRD who received treatment from the esketamine assistance program at Federal University of Sao Paulo, between April 2017 and December 2018. The SC injections were administrated weekly at a dose of 0.5-1.0mg/kg, in conjunction with patients' psychotropic drugs. Response was defined as a decrease of at least 50% in the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale between baseline and 24h after dose. We used hidden Markov modeling in order to estimate de probability of response after each esketamine injection. RESULTS: The probability of a patient that was a "non-responder" to become a "responder" following a SC injection of esketamine was 17.30% and the probability that this patient remains a "non-responder" was 82.70%. The probability of a patient that was a "responder" to remain as a "responder" was 95%. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with TRD who had not responded after the first dose of esketamine, still had a chance of responding after the subsequent dose administrated via SC.

Effects of subcutaneous esketamine on blood pressure and heart rate in treatment-resistant depression.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The impact of multiple subcutaneous (s.c.) esketamine injections on the blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) of patients with unipolar and bipolar treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is poorly understood. This study aimed to assess the cardiovascular safety of multiple s.c. doses of esketamine in patients with TRD. METHODS: Seventy TRD patients received 394 weekly s.c. esketamine injections in conjunction with oral antidepressant therapy for up to six weeks. Weekly esketamine doses were 0.5, 0.75 or 1.0 mg/kg according to each patient's response to treatment. Participants were monitored before each treatment and every 15 minutes thereafter for 120 minutes. We assessed systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and HR measurements for the entire treatment course. RESULTS: BP increased after the first s.c. esketamine injection, reaching maximum mean SBP/DBP levels of 4.87/5.54 mmHg within 30-45 minutes. At the end of monitoring, 120 minutes post dose, vital signs returned to pretreatment levels. We did not detect significant differences in BP between doses of 0.5, 0.75, and 1 mg/kg esketamine. Mean HR did not differ significantly between doses or before and after s.c. esketamine injection. CONCLUSIONS: The BP changes observed with repeated s.c. esketamine injections were mild and well tolerated for doses up to 1 mg/kg. The s.c. route is a simple and safe method of esketamine administration, even for patients with clinical comorbidities, including obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. However, 14/70 patients experienced treatment-emergent transient hypertension (SBP >180 mmHg and/or a DBP >110 mmHg). Therefore, we strongly recommend monitoring BP for 90 minutes after esketamine dosing. Since s.c. esketamine is cheap, requires less frequent dosing (once a week), and is a simpler procedure compared to intravenous infusions, it might have an impact on public health.

The needs of members of the families of general hospital inpatients.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: The needs of members of the families of intensive care unit patients have been studied, but little is known about the needs of members of the families of general hospital inpatients, especially patients with chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to identify the needs of members of the families of general hospital inpatients and investigate associations between these needs and the patients' clinical and psychiatric profiles. DESIGN AND SETTING: Descriptive study, in a public teaching hospital. METHODS: A random sample of 47 patients and members of their families was studied. Family members' needs were investigated using the critical care family needs inventory and the patients' clinical profiles were investigated using the hospital anxiety and depression scale, confusion assessment method and Karnofsky performance status. The frequencies of family members' needs were described and the patients' clinical and psychiatric characteristics were correlated with the needs using the chi-squared test. RESULTS: Chronic patients predominated and the needs for reassurance and information were indicated as the most important by all members of their families. No associations were found between the patients' characteristics and the needs of members of their families during the hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: The needs indicated by members of the families of general hospital inpatients were similar to those of members of the families of patients in intensive care units: they considered it very important to be reassured and kept informed throughout the hospitalization.

Avaliação de empatia em residentes de especialidades clínicas e cirúrgicas da Universidade Federal de São Paulo / assessment of empathy in medical residents of clinic and surgical specialties at the Federal University of São Paulo

No campo da saúde, a empatia é definida como um atributo com dimensões emocionais e cognitivas que possibilita uma compreensão das experiências interiores e da perspectiva do paciente como um indivíduo singular, somada à capacidade de comunicar esse entendimento ao paciente. A função da empatia médica seria identificar e compreender os sentimentos do doente, promovendo aumento na confiança, na lealdade e no respeito entre médico e paciente. Este estudo teve como meta avaliar a empatia de residentes entre o terceiro e o quinto ano da Universidade Federal de São Paulo, buscando verificar as possíveis diferenças entre a empatia dos clínicos e cirurgiões e sua relação com o perfil profissional.

In the field of health, empathy is defined as an attribute with cognitive and emotional dimensions that enables an understanding of inner experience and a perspective of the patient as a unique individual, plus the ability to communicate this understanding to the patient. The role of empathy is to identify and understand the patient's feelings, thus promoting an increase in trust, loyalty and respect between doctor and patient. Therefore, the following study was aimed at evaluating the empathy 3rd to 5th year medical residents from the Federal University of São Paulo to verify any possible differences between the empathy of physicians and surgeons and their relationship with the professional profile.

Comunicação, humanidades e humanização: a educação técnica, ética, estética e emocional do estudante e do profissional de saúde / Communication, humanities and humanization: technical, ethical, esthetic and emotional education for students and healthcare professionals / Comunicación, humanidades y humanización: la educación técnica, ética, estética y emocional del estudiante y del profesional de la salud

Neste artigo discutimos os conceitos de humanização e humanidades, sua relação com a comunicação na constituição do sujeito e sua importância na formação profissional, a partir de uma perspectiva do preparo de profissionais que tenham as competências para um trabalho que contemple a integração e a integralidade das práticas. É apresentada uma revisão do campo, discutindo os papéis historicamente atribuídos à natureza e à cultura na constituição do sujeito, particularmente em sua dimensão emocional e moral. É relatado um trabalho que vem sendo desenvolvido há vários anos no campo da graduação em medicina tendo como referencial conclusões que emergem deste estudo. Finaliza-se com uma reflexão crítica deste trabalho.

In this paper, we discuss the concepts of humanization and humanities, their relationship with communication in constituting the subject and their importance in professional training, from the perspective of preparing professionals who have the skills for work that includes integration and comprehensiveness of practices. A review of the field is presented, with discussion of the roles historically ascribed to nature and culture in constituting the subject, particularly in its moral and emotional dimensions. We report on a study that has been under development for several years within undergraduate medical education, in which the reference points were the conclusions that emerged from this study. This paper ends by providing critical reflection on this work.

En este artículo se discute el concepto de humanización y de humanidades, su relación con la comunicación en la constitución del sujeto y su importancia en la formación, desde una perspectiva de la preparación de profesionales con habilidades para un trabajo que incluye la integración y la integralidad de las prácticas .Se presenta una revisión del campo, discutiendo los roles históricamente asignados a la naturaleza y la cultura en la constitución del sujeto, en particular en su dimensión moral y emocional. También se relata un trabajo que se está desarrollando hace varios años en el campo de la educación médica que tiene como factor referencial las conclusiones que se desprenden de este estudio. Termina con una reflexión crítica de este trabajo.

Metodologia de ensino em psicologia médica e atenção integral ao paciente / Teaching methods on medical psychology and integrated care for patients

Relata-se uma experiência de ensino da disciplina de Psicologia Médica do segundo ano de graduação de Medicina da Unifesp-EPM, que vem se mostrando bastante profícua em sensibilizar e capacitar o aluno para a observação, percepção e avaliação do estado psíquico e emocional dos pacientes. A partir do ensino teórico de campos do conhecimento, como História da Medicina, Comunicação, Psiquiatria, Psicanálise, e Psicologia do Desenvolvimento, preparamos os alunos para sua aplicação prática por meio de entrevistas com pacientes. Com base nos recortes desses campos de conhecimento e de nossa experiência, criamos um roteiro de entrevista, que visa não engessar o aluno/entrevistador, mas oferecer uma referência geral dos temas básicos que devem ser abordados e observados na entrevista com os pacientes. Os roteiros orientam não apenas o momento da realização das entrevistas, como também sua organização posterior sob a forma de um relatório escrito. Numa relação dialética, os alunos estudam e ensaiam aplicações da teoria, realizam as entrevistas e escrevem relatórios sobre a experiência prática articulada com a teoria.

We report on this article our teaching experience in Medical Psychology Course for second-year graduation students of Medical School of UNIFESP-EPM, which has shown efficient for sensitizing and for training students to observe, to perceive and to evaluate patients' mental and emotional state. From discussion of theoretical fields of knowledge like History of Medicine, Communication Theories, Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis and Developmental Psychology, we prepare students for their clinical practice through patients' interviewing. We created a guideline which offers a reference of basic issues that must be addressed and that must be noted at patients' interviews, which guide on how to interview and also on how to do a written report. In a dialectical relation they study theories and they try theories' application, they interview patients and they write reports on practical experience combined with theories.

Transferências na formação médica / Transference during undergraduate medical training

O aluno de graduação vive momentos intensos quando se depara com os primeiros pacientes durante a formação médica. Colocar-se à frente de um paciente, aflito, exige que o aluno compreenda as diversas demandas de seu paciente. O intuito deste trabalho é promover uma reflexão sobre os fenômenos psíquicos e emocionais presentes em qualquer relação assistencial e discutir suas implicações e efeitos. Buscou-se compreender melhor o que o estudante tem a oferecer ao paciente, ajudando-o a observar e a valorizar as reações que pode despertar em seus pacientes, apesar de seu conhecimento ainda incipiente dos aspectos biomédicos do adoecer. Foi feita uma tentativa de elucidar o fenômeno da transferência e explorar suas implicações na relação médico-paciente.

Undergraduate medical students experience intense feelings when faced with their first patients during medical training. Dealing with the patient's anxiety requires medical students to comprehend the patient's various demands. The current study aimed to foster reflection on the psychological and emotional phenomena underlying interactions between healthcare professionals and patients, and to discus their implications and effects, seeking a better understanding of what students can offer patients, helping them to observe and value the patients' reactions, despite their incipient knowledge of the biomedical aspects of illness. The study attempted to shed light on the phenomenon of transference and its implications for the physician-patient relationship.

Semiologia integrada: uma experiência curricular de aproximação antecipada e integrada à prática médica / Integrated basic clinical skills: a curricular experience with early, comprehensive exposure to clinical practice

Para evitar a fragmentação e a estereotipia e favorecer uma aproximação antecipada da pratica médica, foi introduzido o curso de Semiologia Integrada no programa do segundo ano do curso médico da Unifesp. Este curso inclui a realização de anamneses no hospital, seguidas de discussões que contam com a participação conjunta dos professores de Psicologia Médica e de professores de diferentes áreas da Semiologia (Clínica Médica, Pediatria, Ginecologia, Obstetrícia e Geriatria). Foi dada atenção especial para apresentar ao estudante de Medicina um modelo que integrasse os aspectos biológicos, psicológicos e sociais do adoecer. Este artigo apresenta o projeto e as observações preliminares, que sugerem um importante potencial integrador tanto para os alunos quanto para os professores. São necessárias avaliações futuras para comprovar essas observações.

An early clinical exposure program was developed with the aim of avoiding fragmentation and stereotyped behaviors during medical training. Second-year medical students received an introductory course on Integrated Basic Clinical Skills (BCS), which included hospital rounds followed by case discussions led jointly by faculty members from medical psychology and various clinical areas (internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, and geriatrics). Special care was taken to provide a model in which medical students could learn about biological, psychological, and social aspects of illness within the same format. The article discusses the objectives, logistics, and staff of the course, based on the experience at the Federal University in São Paulo. The model offers an integrated model for both students and faculty. Further studies are necessary to evaluate these preliminary findings.

Atitudes frente a aspectos relevantes da prática médica: estudo transversal randomizado com alunos de segundo e sexto anos / Attitudes toward relevant aspects of medical practice: a cross-sectional study with a random sample of second- and sixth-year students

Estudo transversal com duas amostras randomizadas de 50 alunos do segundo e 50 do sexto ano de graduação em Medicina. Foi aplicado um questionário com questões abertas e a escala "Instrumento de avaliação de atitudes de estudantes de medicina frente a aspectos relevantes da prática médica" (Colares, 2002). A escala contém 52 questões referentes à: 1. Aspectos psicológicos e emocionais nas doenças orgânicas e mentais; 2. Manejo de situações relacionadas à morte; 3. Atenção primária à saúde; 4. Aspectos relacionados à doença mental; 5. Contribuição do médico ao avanço científico da medicina; 6. Outros aspectos relacionados à atuação médica e às políticas de saúde. As atitudes são categorizadas em positivas, negativas e conflitantes. Observou-se que os estudantes apresentaram atitudes positivas frente a pelo menos três dos seis aspectos abordados; os alunos do segundo ano e do sexto ano apresentaram diferença estatisticamente significativa (chi² = 6,901, g.l. = 1, p < 0,05) nas atitudes relacionadas ao fator 2 (manejo de situações relacionadas à morte).

This was a cross-sectional study with two random samples: 50 second-year and 50 sixth-year undergraduate medical students. An open-ended questionnaire was applied, in addition to a scale known as the "Instrument for evaluating medical students' attitudes towards key aspects of medical practice" (Colares, 2002). The scale contains 52 questions on: 1. Psychological and emotional aspects of physical and mental illness; 2. managing situations related to death; 3. primary healthcare; 4. aspects related to mental illness; 5. the physician's contribution to scientific progress in medicine; and 6. other aspects of medical work and health policies. The attitudes are categorized as positive, negative, or conflictive. According to the findings, students had positive attitudes towards at least three of the six aspects. Second-year and sixth-year students differed significantly (chi² = 6.901, d.f. = 1, p < 0.05) in their attitudes toward factor 2 (managing situations related to death).

Atitudes frente a fontes de tensão do curso médico: um estudo exploratório com alunos do segundo e do sexto ano / Attitudes towards sources of tension during undergraduate medical education: an exploratory study of second and sixth-year students

A duas amostras randomizadas de 50 alunos do segundo e 50 do sexto ano médico foi aplicada a "Escala de atitudes frente a algumas fontes de tensão do curso médico", que avalia quatro fatores: aspectos psicológicos e adaptação ao curso médico; escolha profissional e características do curso médico; manifestações de comportamento disfuncional; saúde pessoal e estilo de vida. Os alunos também responderam a questões abertas, que versavam sobre as experiências vivenciadas durante o curso de Medicina. Os dados oriundos da aplicação da escala revelaram que 24,1 por cento dos estudantes pesquisados foram considerados potencialmente sujeitos a desenvolver crises adaptativas. O material obtido na análise das questões abertas permitiu a construção de dois discursos: o do aluno de segundo ano e o do aluno de sexto ano. A partir da análise dos dados quantitativos e dos qualitativos, são discutidos temas relacionados ao segundo ano (processo de ensino-aprendizagem, prática pedagógica dos docentes, avaliação da aprendizagem) e ao sexto ano (organização do trabalho assistencial, seleção para a residência médica, aspectos éticos das práticas assistenciais). Considerações sobre medidas preventivas e interventivas são apresentadas com base nos temas desenvolvidos na discussão.

Two random samples of medical students (50 each from the second and sixth years) were interviewed with the "Scale of Attitudes Towards Sources of Tension During Medical School", which assesses four factors: psychological aspects and adaptation to medical school; career choice and characteristics of medical school; manifestations of dysfunctional behavior; personal health; and lifestyle. The students also answered open questions on their experience during undergraduate training. According to the scale, 24.1 percent of the interviewees were potentially subject to developing adaptive crises. The material obtained from analysis of the open questions allowed constructing two discourses, corresponding to second and sixth-year students, respectively. Based on an analysis of the quantitative and qualitative data, we discuss themes related to the second year (teaching/learning process, faculty's teaching practice, and grading) and sixth year (organization of hands-on experience with patients, admissions process for residency programs, and ethical aspects of medical practice). We comment on preventive measures and interventions on the basis of the themes developed in the discussion.

The needs of members of the families of general hospital inpatients / As necessidades dos familiares de pacientes internados no hospital geral

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: The needs of members of the families of intensive care unit patients have been studied, but little is known about the needs of members of the families of general hospital inpatients, especially patients with chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to identify the needs of members of the families of general hospital inpatients and investigate associations between these needs and the patients' clinical and psychiatric profiles. DESIGN AND SETTING: Descriptive study, in a public teaching hospital. METHODS: A random sample of 47 patients and members of their families was studied. Family members' needs were investigated using the critical care family needs inventory and the patients' clinical profiles were investigated using the hospital anxiety and depression scale, confusion assessment method and Karnofsky performance status. The frequencies of family members' needs were described and the patients' clinical and psychiatric characteristics were correlated with the needs using the chi-squared test. RESULTS: Chronic patients predominated and the needs for reassurance and information were indicated as the most important by all members of their families. No associations were found between the patients' characteristics and the needs of members of their families during the hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: The needs indicated by members of the families of general hospital inpatients were similar to those of members of the families of patients in intensive care units: they considered it very important to be reassured and kept informed throughout the hospitalization.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: As necessidades dos familiares de pacientes internados têm sido estudadas em unidades de terapia intensiva, porém pouco se conhece sobre as necessidades dos familiares de pacientes internados no hospital geral, especialmente dos pacientes com doenças crônicas. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar as necessidades dos familiares de pacientes internados no hospital geral e verificar associações dessas necessidades com o perfil clínico e psiquiátrico dos pacientes. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo descritivo em hospital-escola público. MÉTODO: Numa amostra aleatória de 47 pacientes e seus familiares, as necessidades dos familiares foram investigadas com o uso da CCFNI (Critical Care Family Needs Inventory); o perfil clínico dos pacientes com os instrumentos: HAD (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), CAM (Confusion Assessment Method) e KPS (Karnofsky Performance Status). Foram descritas as freqüências das necessidades dos familiares; a associação das características clínicas e psiquiátricas às necessidades foi analisada com o uso de teste qui-quadrado. RESULTADOS: Houve predominância de pacientes crônicos e as necessidades de segurança e informação foram apontadas como as mais importantes por todos os familiares. Não foram encontradas associações entre as características dos pacientes e as necessidades dos familiares durante a hospitalização. CONCLUSÕES: As necessidades apontadas pelos familiares dos pacientes internados no hospital geral foram similares às que são apontadas por familiares de pacientes internados em unidades de terapia intensiva: eles consideraram muito importante sentirem-se assegurados e informados durante todo o período de internação.